Day 1270 – My 2013 Goals

Posted on January 1, 2013 by 365 days of marriage

I know everyone and their brother makes goals, resolutions, whatever for the new year. But this will be a little different. Sort of…

First, here are a few goals.
1. Publish my book.
2. Start creating additional resources for my book.
3. Book 10-15+ weddings.
4. Book 5-10 portraits.
5. Encourage Bret as he starts his own business (more on that on another day!)
6. Get better gear, learn more and more every day.
7. Take a few vacations.
8. Try to take more pictures of myself and Bret.

Now, I say all that…but looking back over this last year, I make goals and sometimes I don’t meet them. But I’ve learned being a Christian in small business, your “goals and successes” seem to have a different definition.

I noticed while I was typing up my journals that I said a phrase a lot….”Go before me today. I give you my day, no matter what that means.” It’s something I want to live by every day. There were a few days, once I started praying this, that I had big plans for what I would do….and then I would get a call from a friend who needed me right away….or I project I was working on hit a 3+ hour hiccup of tedious work….and then I would remember, oh yea, I prayed for this!

So, while I would love to accomplish everything on that list (and more) I am officially conceding now. I am giving this year over to God, and whatever the outcome, I will be thankful. This phrase is over my computer screen now.

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And hey, I’m attempting number 8 already!

Day 1269 – How Did My 2012 Go? Did I Meet My Goals?

Posted on December 31, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

One thing I’m currently working on is a book on being a Christian Small Business owner. I really can’t wait to share it when it’s done! Don’t worry, you guys will be the first to know all updates!

One of the things I need to do is go through all my journals and type up entries that are appropriate for the book. Boy did I have a lot!! I also found an entry I had typed up on the computer for the book specifically. After reading it, I realized it was a PERFECT story to share today.

This was written on June 4th of this year.

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I’ve felt like such a burden on Bret the past few months…with all the stress of lack of money…and now the pinch is on again….I really didn’t want to tell him how I was feeling.

But here’s what happened….so since I had been crying so much, I wanted to take a shower so I wouldn’t look like I’d been crying. It really wasn’t a “hiding things from my husband thing” it was a “I want to be strong for you and not stress you out” thing. Well…that’s obviously not what God wanted….so…when Bret got home from work, I was brushing my teeth….today I put up a thankfulness board and a client board…when Bret walked through the door, he saw it and amazing, wonderful, awesome compliments came pouring out of his mouth. Overwhelming awesome things. I was undone, I started crying while I was brushing my teeth and had to stop. I went over to him and just told him how it’s funny, because I had just taken a shower to hide my tears…that I was stressed about money….and I started listening to worship around the same time a friend posted this as her status “Lord help me to learn from the Israelites…to trust You and not look back to Egypt.”….it was exactly what I needed to hear.

Then he started pouring out compliments and truths again….”God will care for us, He’s been faithful….He has brought us here by His will and will care for us.” Then he took my hand and walked me over to the board and he’s like, “look at what you’ve done.”

He also said, “that” pointing to the client board “is making it to me…our business is complete now…sure we could use a studio and better gear….but that is it.”

He said so many wonderful things I can’t remember them all. I am completely undone by God’s goodness to me tonight.

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So, when I look back and wonder how I did, I will cling to what Bret said. That I HAVE made it. It has nothing to do with my bank account or even my pictures. It has EVERYTHING to do with our clients. So my dear, wonderful, amazing clients, because of you, I have made it. 🙂

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Day 1255 – Happy Two Year Anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Bolster!!

Posted on December 17, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

Hope you have a WONDERFUL anniversary!!

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Day 1254 – I Didn’t Believe In This Wedding Tradition Until 6 Years Ago Today

Posted on December 16, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

Six years ago today, my dear friends Kenny and Naomi were married. They were actually a big influence on our relationship and I truly believe that a question Kenny asked Bret and I was a push towards Bret thinking more seriously about marrying me. (“How have you grown together spiritually?”) This and other conversations were a reason why we honored them at our wedding.

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(Image by Shawna Sherrell Photography)

But there is a little known story, at least one I haven’t share yet on this lovely marriage blog!

I was ALWAYS all about catching the bouquet. I’m still bummed I can’t participate in that tradition at weddings. I was one of those girls who PUSHED other girls out of the way. Knocking over small children, I did whatever it took to catch that bouquet.

When Naomi was about to throw her throw away bouquet…it couldn’t be found! So, this dear bride threw her actual bouquet.

The one she walked down the aisle with.

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The one she held as she married the man she loved.

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The one that she let me play around with before she threw it!

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It turned out that I would be the one to catch it! While this was a great joy in and of itself, the real joy was not discovered until later.

2 months later, to the day, I met Bret Gaitan. At the time, I had NO idea who he would be to me. That I would one day say “I Do” to this crazy Marine. It wasn’t until months after I met him that I realized the significance of the date we met.

So Naomi, happy anniversary and THANK YOU for throwing you’re actual bouquet.

I STILL have this bouquet by the way. 🙂

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